He said: “This is the first time this has happened during the Trump administration and they decided they want to help deter it in the future.”

Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron came out strong on the strikes, calling for Britain to take action.

CNN

Flag flies above USS Porter as missile launched at Al Shayrat Airbase

He said: "The attack by American forces was a proportionate response to the barbarous attack by the Syrian government on its own people.

"The British government rather than just putting out a bland statement welcoming this should now follow it up and call an emergency meeting of the Nato alliance to see what else can be done, be that more surgical strikes or no fly zones.

"Evil happens when good people do nothing, we cannot sit by while a dictator gasses his own people. We cannot stand by, we must act."

Italy, along with Germany, France and Britain judge the US attack as "proportionate".

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said: “Tonight’s action by US President Trump is a reasoned response to a war crime.

“The operation took place at the air base from which the attacks with chemical weapons started in recent days.”

Related articles

A British Government spokesperson said: “Overnight, the US has taken military action against the Syrian regime, targeting the airfield in Shayrut which was used to launch the chemical weapons attack earlier this week.

“The UK Government fully supports the US action, which we believe was an appropriate response to the barbaric chemical weapons attack launched by the Syrian regime, and is intended to deter further attacks.”

Nigel Farage, who has appeared to be close to Trump following the BRexit vote and his frequent trips to the US had a surprising take on it.

He wrote: “Many Trump voters will be worried about this military intervention.

“Where will it end?”The US launched 59 Tomahawk missiles on a Syrian airfield after Bashar al-Assad was accused of killing civilians with chemical weapons in a murderous gas attack.

The air assault was launched from the USS Porter and USS Ross in the Mediterranean.

The U.S. bombing of Syria last night was rash, trigger happy, nonsensical and will achieve nothing. I hoped for better.